How Do I Work Out How Much Concrete I Need?

One of the core tasks for most construction projects is working out how much you will need of the various building materials – including concrete. Here Madmix, accredited concrete suppliers in Cambridgeshire, explain the formula you can use to ascertain how much concrete you will need, and why it can be worth adding a little extra to be on the safe side.

The Basic Formula

The basic way of calculating how much concrete you will need is to use the following formula – Length x Width x Depth (or Thickness). It’s the one we use in our online concrete calculator, which works in both Metric and Imperial measurements. Obviously the more accurate your measurements, the less likely you are to over- or under-order the amount you actually need. A similar formula can be used for walls, where the width measurement can be replaced by the height of the wall.

While this formula works for squares and rectangles, sometimes concrete pours are intended for irregular shapes. In cases like this, it may be worth trying to break down the amount required into smaller, more regular shapes such as rectangles. And it’s always worth contacting us at Madmix, as we will be able to give you some expert advice on how much concrete to order.

Why It’s Worth Adding an Extra Amount

It is often worth adding a small extra percentage of concrete to what you think you will need to take account of any wastage. This can occur for a number of reasons, including:

• Spillages during transportation – accidents do sometimes happen on construction sites
• Irregularities such as blockages in the delivery system
• And a certain amount may be lost via contact with pumps, tools and other items of equipment.

So, it may be worth adding between 5-10% to your order. The alternative may be having to reorder an extra supply, which can be costly and time-consuming, ruining your carefully planned work schedule – and it may mean you have slightly different consistencies on the same pour.

Another reason to err on the generous side is the fact that at Madmix, we can take away any excess concrete and we won’t charge you for this service. You only pay for what you order from us – so, if you order 3 cubic metres, and only use 2.5, you will pay for the 3-metre quoted price but not for the disposal of any excess. If you are uncertain of the exact dimensions of the project you are working on, this will give you peace of mind and save you money.

Accredited Concrete in Cambridgeshire from Madmix

There are plenty of other reasons to order your concrete from us. We can accommodate orders from just 1 cubic metre to more than 5,000 cubic metres, and our fleet of 8 and 6-cu metre lorries will get your order to you as quickly as possible, on the same day if possible. We can deliver Mondays to Fridays, including early-morning and Saturday slots as well (the latter for a small premium. You can also pick up your concrete yourself from our base on the outskirts of Cambridge as well.

Our concrete is not only accredited, which means that it’s guaranteed to be of a uniformly high quality, but we also supply a variety of different admixtures – including waterproof, pumpable and fibre-reinforced – depending on the nature of your project.

We also pride ourselves on our high quality of service and our competitive prices; we always try to match any of our competitors’ quotes, and we offer a variety of easy-payment options. To find out more, follow this link and fill in the online form; you can also call us on 01954 212212 or email us at info@madmix.co.uk.